User interface

ABSTRACT

A user input device for providing 8-way directional control, comprising a first set of sensors consisting of a first sensor adjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair of sensors, and a third sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting a second pair of sensors; and a second set of sensors, adjacent the second set of sensors, consisting of a fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting a third pair of sensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor, constituting a fourth pair of sensors; wherein user actuation of a respective one of at least four of the six sensors provides for control in a respective one of four different directions and user actuation of a respective one of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of sensors provides for control in a respective one of the remaining four different directions.

The present invention relates to a user interface for a hand portabledevice. In particular, it relates to a input mechanism using the keypadof the hand portable device.

At the present time, desktop computers use peripheral devices for userinput. The mouse is the standard cursor control device used for mostapplications. The joystick is the standard input device used for gaming.Both of these devices are relatively bulky and are connected to thedesktop computer. They are therefore generally unsuitable for portablecomputing. In one type of portable computer, the keyboard has integratedwithin it a joystick-like device which can be used to control the cursorinstead of a mouse.

It would be desirable to provide joystick-like control in a handportable device without having to integrate a joystick or use peripheraldevices.

One way of providing joystick like control on a mobile phone would be toassign a key in a numeric keypad to each of 8 directional movements:North, South, East, West, North-East, South-East, South-West and NorthWest. Thus the keypad would be operable as an 8-way directionalcontroller. This would be achieved using the array of three columns andfour rows of data input keys on a mobile phone by assigning three of therows to 8-way directional control. For example, the keys for inputting“1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “6”, “7”, “8” and “9” would respectively be used formoving NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, S and SE. The key for inputting “5” would beredundant.

The inventor has realised that such an arrangement is not intuitive andgenerally requires a user to locate a key visually before it is pressed.The inventor has additionally realised that this disadvantage arisesfrom the presence of a redundant key, the use of a large number of keysto achieve the control, and the relatively large separation between, forexample, keys for inputting “1” and “9”, that is for moving from NW toSE.

It therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improvedjoystick-like control in a hand portable device using a keypad.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided ahand portable device comprising: a user input device comprising aplurality of sensors for tactile actuation by a user including a firstsensor and a second sensor adjacent thereto; and control meansresponsive to the actuation of the first sensor by itself to produce afirst control signal, responsive to the actuation of the second sensorby itself to produce a second control signal different from the firstcontrol signal, and responsive to the simultaneous actuation of thefirst and second sensors in combination to produce a third controlsignal different from the first and second control signals.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof providing directional control, using the sensors of a keypad of ahand portable device, comprising the steps of: simultaneously sensing aninput from each one of a plurality of sensors; associating predeterminedcontrol signals with predetermined combinations of simultaneous inputs;detecting simultaneous combinations of inputs to produce a first controlsignal in response to the actuation of a first sensor by itself, toproduce a second control signal in response to actuation of a secondsensor by itself, and to produce a third control signal in response toactuation of the first sensor and the second sensor together.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided auser input device for providing 8-way directional control, comprising: afirst set of sensors consisting of a first sensor adjacent a secondsensor, constituting a first pair of sensors, and a third sensoradjacent the second sensor, constituting a second pair of sensors; and asecond set of sensors, adjacent the second set of sensors, consisting ofa fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting a third pair ofsensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor, constituting afourth pair of sensors; wherein user actuation of a respective one of atleast four of the six sensors provides for control in a respective oneof four different directions and user actuation of a respective one ofthe first, second, third and fourth pairs of sensors provides forcontrol in a respective one of the remaining four different directions.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of providing 8-way directional control using a user inputdevice comprising a first set of sensors consisting of a first sensoradjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair of sensors, and athird sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting a second pair ofsensors and a second set of sensors, adjacent the second set of sensors,consisting of a fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting athird pair of sensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor,constituting a fourth pair of sensors, comprising the step of: actuatingpredetermined ones of the sensors to move in any one of a first fourorthogonal directions, and actuating predetermined ones of the fourpairs of the sensors to move in any one of a second four orthogonaldirections, off-set by 45 degrees from the first four orthogonaldirections.

Thus embodiments of the present invention provides for the control ofthe element (for example a cursor or a character in a game) on thescreen, for example, by using an existing keypad in a non-standardmanner.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to understandhow the same may be brought into effect, reference will now be made byway of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a hand portable device;

FIG. 2 a illustrates a mobile phone having a conventional 4×3 keypadarray for data entry;

FIG. 2 b illustrates a mobile phone having a QWERTY keypad for dataentry;

FIG. 3 illustrates circuitry which converts the input from six discretekeys into eight distinct signals for controlling directional movement;and

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating how the actuation of keys in a 2×3 arrayprovides eight directional control signals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a hand portable device 2 which inthis example is a mobile phone. The hand portable device 2 comprises auser interface 10, a processor 20, an input controller 30 and a radiofrequency transceiver 40. The processor 20 is bi-directionallyconnected, to receive an input and provide an output to the userinterface 10 and the radio frequency transceiver 40. The user interface10 comprises a display 12, an audio output 14, an audio input 16 and akeypad 100. The keypad 100 is connected to the input controller 30 whichin turn is connected to the processor 20. The keypad 100 comprises anumber of function keys 110 and a number of data input keys 120 forinputting numerals and/or alphanumeric characters.

FIG. 2 a illustrates a hand portable mobile phone 2 having a twelve keyarrangement (three columns and four rows) of keys 120. The data inputkeys 120 have a sub-set of a plurality of keys 130 arranged as threecolumns and two rows of six keys. The top left (TL) key 131 is at columnone, row one (1, 1). The top centre (T) key 132 is at row one, columntwo (1, 2). The top right (TR) key 133 is at row one, column three (1,3). The bottom left (BL) key 134 is at row two, column one (2, 1). Thebottom centre (B) key 135 is at row two, column two (2, 2). The bottomright (BR) key 136 is at row two, column three (2, 3).

FIG. 2 b illustrates a hand portable mobile phone 2 having a keypad 100for typing. The data input keys 120 includes a key for each letter inthe alphabet (e.g. a QWERTY keyboard). The data input keys are dividedinto two portions. A first half 120 a and a second half 120 b areseparated by the display 12 and the function keys 110. The data inputkeys 120 have a sub-set of a plurality of keys 130 arranged as threecolumns and two rows of six keys. The top left (TL) key 131 is at columnone, row one (1, 1). The top centre (T) key 132 is at row one, columntwo (1, 2). The top right (TR) key 133 is at row one, column three (1,3). The bottom left (BL) key 134 is at row two, column one (2, 1). Thebottom centre (B) key 135 is at row two, column two (2, 2). The bottomright (BR) key 136 is at row two, column three (2, 3).

The keys 131, 132 and 133 are arranged linearly with no intermediate keybetween them and they form a first set of keys. Although the first setof keys, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, are arranged substantiallyrectilinearly they may in other embodiments be arranged curvilinearly.The keys 134, 135 and 136 are arranged linearly with no intermediate keybetween them and they form a second set of keys. Although the second setof keys, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, are arranged substantiallyrectilinearly they may in other embodiments be arranged curvilinearly.The second set of keys and the first set of keys extend substantiallyparallel to each other without any intermediate keys between them. Thekey pairs 131 and 134, 132 and 135 and 133 and 136 are alignedsubstantially parallel to each other.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b the keys 131-136form an array of 2 rows and 3 columns. A portion of each of the keys131-133 lies on a first rectilinear axis defining the first row and aportion of each of the keys 134-136 lies on a second rectilinear axis,parallel to the first rectilinear axis, defining the second row. Aportion of each of the keys 131 and 134 lies on a third rectilinearaxis, perpendicular to the first axis, defining the first column. Aportion of each of the keys 132 and 135 lies on a fourth rectilinearaxis, parallel to the third axis, defining the second column. A portionof each of the keys 133 and 136 lies on a fifth rectilinear axis,parallel to the third axis, defining the third column.

The distance between the adjacent keys in the first set and the adjacentkeys in the second set is from 2 to 6 mm. The distance between the firstand second sets of keys is between 3 and 8 mm. Thus each of the keys131-136 can be actuated by rolling a thumb or index digit about a fixedposition. The key 132 or 135 preferably has a textured surface to alloworientation of the thumb or index finger on the keypad without usingsight.

FIG. 3 illustrates the plurality of keys 130 including the keys 131,132, 133, 134, 135 and 136. Each key ha an underlying switch which in asteady state is open. The actuation of a key by the user closes theswitch. The input of each of the switches is connected to a clocksignal. The output of the switch corresponding to key 131 provides thefirst bit of an address to a programmed read-only memory (PROM) 32. Theoutput of the switch corresponding to key 132 provides a second bit ofan address to the PROM 32. The output of the switch corresponding to key133 provides the third bit of an address to PROM 32. The output of theswitch corresponding to key 134 provides the fourth bit of an address toPROM 32. The output of the switch corresponding to the key 135 providesthe fifth bit of an address to the PROM 32. The output of the switchcorresponding to the key 136 provides the sixth bit of an address to thePROM 132. When a switch is in the open, non-actuated position, itprovides a logic LOW value as the address bit. When the switch isclosed, it provides a logic HIGH value as the address bit with eachclock pulse. Consequently, each of the permutations in which theplurality of keys 130 can be actuated either by themselves or in anycombination, has a corresponding unique six bit address which isinputted to the PROM 32. The PROM 32 produces a four bit parallel outputfor each distinct address applied to its input. Thus each possiblepermutation of actuations of the plurality of keys 130 produces apredefined four bit output 34. The first bit of the four bit output 34is an enable signal and the remaining three bits is an informationsignal which represents one of the eight possible directional movementsof a joystick which corresponds on a compass to North (moving thejoystick forward), South (moving the joystick back), West (moving thejoystick to the left), East (moving the joystick to the right), NorthWest (moving the joystick forward and to the left), North East (movingthe joystick forward and to the right), South East (moving the joystickback and to the right) and South West (moving the joystick back and tothe left).

FIG. 4 illustrates a table which shows the relationship between theactuation of the switches 131 to 136 and the output 34 from the PROM 32.The table has six columns one for each of the keys 131 to 136. An “X” ina column headed by a particular key indicates the actuation of that keyif one then moves along the row in which that X occurs to columns sevenand eight of the table, they indicate the four bit signal 34 includingthe first enable bit and the three information bits. Column nine of thetable indicates which of the eight possible directional movements theoutput 34 from the PROM 32 indicates to the processor 20.

It will therefore be apparent from the table of FIG. 4 that theactuation of the top centre (T) key 132 by itself corresponds to themovement of a joystick in the North direction. Actuation of the bottomcentre (B) key 135 by itself corresponds to the movement of a joystickin the South direction. Actuation of the top left (TL) key 131 by itselfor actuation of the bottom left (BL) key 134 by itself or actuation ofthe top left (TL) key 131 and the bottom left (BL) key 134 togethercorresponds to the movement of a joystick in the West direction.Actuation of the top right (TR) key 133 by itself or the bottom right(BR) key 136 by itself or actuation of the top right (TR) key 133 andthe bottom right (BR) key 136 together corresponds to the movement of ajoystick in the East direction. Actuation of the top left (TL) key 131and the top centre (T) key 132 together corresponds to movement of ajoystick in the North West direction. Actuation of the top centre (T)key 132 and the top right (TR) key 133 together corresponds to themovement of a joystick in the North East direction. Actuation of thebottom left (BL) key 134 and the bottom centre (B) key 135 togethercorresponds to the movement of a joystick in the South West direction.Actuation of the bottom centre (B) key 135 and the bottom right (BR) key136 together corresponds to movement of a joystick in the North Eastdirection. All other input permutations of the plurality of keys 130results in the first bit of the output of the PROM 32 being logic LOWwhich corresponds to no movement of a joystick.

According to one embodiment (shown in FIG. 4) the actuation of the topleft (TL) key 131, the top centre (T) key 132 and the top right (TR) key133 together is interpreted as actuation of only the top centre (T) key132. Likewise the simultaneous actuation of the bottom left (BL) key134, the bottom centre (B) key 135 and the bottom right (BR) key 136 isinterpreted as the actuation of only the bottom centre (B) key 135.

When the first bit of the output of the PROM 32 is HIGH, the processorinterprets the three information bits which constitute the remainder ofthe output of the PROM 32. Thus the 2×3 array of keys 131 to 136provides an eight way input which emulates a joystick.

It is preferable for the actuation of one or more of the plurality ofkeys 130 to occur by the pivoting of an index finger or thumb betweenthe top centre (T) key 132 and the bottom centre (B) key 135. A forwardrocking motion of the digit therefore actuates the top centre (T) key132 and a backward rocking motion of the digit actuates the bottomcentre (B) key 135. A leftwards rocking motion of the digit actuateseither one or both of the top left (TL) key 131 and the bottom left (BL)key 134 and a rightwards rocking motion of the digit actuates either oneor both of the top right (TR) key 133 and the bottom right (BR) key 136.A rocking motion of the digit in the North Westerly direction actuatesboth the top left (TL) key 131 and the top centre (T) key 132. A rockingof the digit in the North Easterly direction actuates both the topcentre (T) key 132 and the top right (TR) key 133. A rocking motion ofthe digit in the South Easterly direction actuates both the bottom right(BR) key 136 and the bottom centre (B) key 135. A rocking motion of thedigit in the South Westerly direction actuates both the bottom left (BL)key 134 and the bottom centre (B) key 135. Thus the plurality of keys130 provides for eight way control using one digit, which is pivotedabout a stationary point. To enable the eight way directional controlwith the pivoting of a single digit it is preferable for the pluralityof keys 130 to lie within a rectangle having a length of approximately20 mm and a height of approximately 15 mm. Thus the 8-way controlprovided by the keypad is highly intuitive and does not requires a digitto be lifted from the keypad and re-oriented to simultaneously actuatetwo keys. The keypad can therefore be easily used for 8-way controlwithout looking at it.

It should be made apparent that the plurality of keys 130 are not keyswhich are dedicated to the aforementioned joystick-like control. Theyare keys which in a data entry mode indicate a numeral or letter forinput but which in a cursor control or gaming mode provide for eight waydirectional control. In such a data entry mode the simultaneousdepression of two keys is ambiguous and processor 20 is programmed notto interpret such a simultaneous depression as a special input.

The plurality of key 130 may be used to control a cursor on the display12 or move an element within a game displayed from a third personperspective. Alternatively, a game may be displayed from a first personperspective of the game character in which case the plurality of keyschange the perspective by ‘moving’ the character.

Although the plurality of keys 130 are implemented as switches in FIG.3, the invention is not limited to this implementation as any device(sensor) which senses touch may be used.

It is envisaged that the normal cover of a mobile phone having twelveopenings for each of the twelve data input keys could be replaced by acover in which keys “1” to “6” or the keys “4” to “#” are replaced by asingle key or joystick device. The sensor or switches associated witheach of the keys is unaffected. The underside of the single key isarranged so that it actuates a single sensor or pairs of sensors toprovide 8-way directional control in the manner previously described.

Although a PROM 32 was used in FIG. 3 to translate the possiblepermutations of actuations of the plurality of keys into eight controlsignals, other means exist for carrying out the same purpose. Forexample, discrete logical elements, programmable logic devices or aprogrammed microcontroller could be used. In fact, the processor 20,itself, could carry out the process using software.

Although in the foregoing the keys 131-136 are in a 2 row by threecolumn arrangement, they could of course be re-oriented in a 3 row bytwo column arrangement.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

1. A hand portable device comprising: a user input device comprising aplurality of sensors in an array for tactile actuation by a user;control means responsive to the actuation of a sensor by itself or thesimultaneous actuation of a pair of adjacent sensors; wherein thecontrol means produces one of N control signals upon actuation of asensor by itself or the simultaneous actuation of an adjacent pair ofsensors; and wherein each of the N control signals belong to a first setof control signals or a second set of control signals, wherein eachsensor of the array is associated with only one of the control signalsof the first set and wherein each of the control signals of the secondset is associated with an adjacent pair of sensors in the array, buteach adjacent pair of sensors is not associated with a control signal ofthe second set.
 2. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe plurality of sensors comprises a first set of sensors consisting ofa first sensor adjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair ofsensors, and a third sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting asecond pair of sensors; and a second set of sensors consisting of afourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting a third pair ofsensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor, constituting afourth pair of sensors.
 3. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 2wherein the pairs of sensors are located and arranged to besimultaneously actuated by a user using one digit.
 4. A hand portabledevice as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first set of sensors isadjacent the second set of sensors.
 5. A hand portable device as claimedin claim 2, wherein the control means is responsive to user actuation ofa respective one of at least four of the six sensors to provide arespective one of four different control signals and is responsive touser actuation of a respective one of the first, second, third andfourth pairs of sensors to provides for a respective one of anadditional four different control signals.
 6. A hand portable device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the control means produces: (a) a firstcontrol signal in response to the actuation of a second sensor; (b) asecond control signal in response to the actuation of a first sensor;(c) a third control signal in response to actuation of both the firstand second sensors simultaneously; (d) a fourth control signal inresponse to the actuation of a third sensor; (e) a fifth control signalin response to the actuation of both the second and third sensorssimultaneously; (f) a sixth control signal in response to the actuationof a fifth sensor; (g) a seventh control signal in response to theactuation of both the fifth and sixth sensors simultaneously; and (h) aneighth control signal in response to the actuation of both the fourthand fifth sensors simultaneously.
 7. A hand portable device as claimedin claim 6 wherein the control means in response to the actuation ofonly the fourth sensor produces the second control signal and inresponse to actuation of only the sixth sensor produces the fourthcontrol signal.
 8. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe control means comprises detection means for detecting thesimultaneous actuation of keys.
 9. A hand portable device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors is a 2×3 or 3×2 array ofsensors.
 10. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 2 wherein theuser input device is a keypad having first, second, third, fourth, fifthand sixth keys which respectively actuate the first, second, third,fourth, fifth and sixth sensors whereby the first, second, third andfourth pairs of sensors have corresponding first, second, third andfourth pairs of keys.
 11. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 10wherein each pair of keys are located and arranged to be simultaneouslyactuated by a user using one digit.
 12. A hand portable device asclaimed in claim 10 wherein the pairs of keys are located and arrangedto be actuated by a user rolling or pivoting one digit.
 13. A handportable device as claimed in of claim 10, wherein the first, second andthird keys are arranged curvilinearly.
 14. A hand portable device asclaimed in claim 10 wherein the first, second and third keys arearranged rectilinearly.
 15. A hand portable device as claimed in claim10 wherein the fourth, fifth and sixth keys are arranged substantiallyparallel to the first, second and third keys.
 16. A hand portable deviceas claimed in claim 10, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifthand sixth keys form an array.
 17. A hand portable device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth keysoccupy an area not significantly exceeding 20 mm by 15 mm.
 18. A handportable device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the keypad comprises a4×3 array of mobile telephone keys.
 19. A hand portable device asclaimed in claim 10 wherein the keypad is a typist's keypad.
 20. A handportable device as claimed in claim 10 having a data entry mode wherethe keypad including the plurality of keys are used to enter datawherein in said data entry mode the control means is responsive to theactuation of the first key and second key separately but not together toproduce different control signals.
 21. A hand portable device as claimedin claim 1 further comprising a display for displaying an imageincluding an element moving in the display, wherein the first controlsignal causes the element to move in a first direction, the secondcontrol signal causes the element to move in a second direction and thethird control signal causes the element to move in a third directionintermediate of the first and second directions.
 22. A hand portabledevice as claimed in claims 1 further comprising a display fordisplaying an image having a perspective dependent upon a notionalviewing position, wherein the first control signal causes the notionalviewing position to move in a first direction, the second control signalcauses the notional viewing position to move in a second direction andthe third control signal causes the notional viewing position to move ina third direction intermediate of the first and second directions.
 23. Amethod of providing N-way directional control using more than N/2 butless than N sensors to provide N different control signals, wherein eachof the N different control signals is a member of either a first set ofcontrol signals or a second different set of control signals, the methodcomprising: associating each one of the sensors in the array with onlyone control signal from the first set; associating each of the controlsignals of the second set with a pair of sensors without associatingeach of the pairs of sensors with a control signal of the second set;detecting when a sensor or sensors of the array are actuated; andproviding the control signal associated with the detected actuatedsensor(s).
 24. A user input device for providing 8-way directionalcontrol, comprising a first set of sensors consisting of a first sensoradjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair of sensors, and athird sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting a second pair ofsensors; and a second set of sensors, adjacent the first set of sensors,consisting of a fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting athird pair of sensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor,constituting a fourth pair of sensors; wherein user actuation of arespective one of at least four of the six sensors provides for controlin a respective one of four different directions and user actuation of arespective one of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of sensorsprovides for control in a respective one of the remaining four differentdirections.
 25. A user input device as claimed in claim 24, wherein thepairs of sensors are located and arranged to be simultaneously actuatedby a user using one digit.
 26. A user input device as claimed in claim24, wherein the plurality of sensors is a 2×3 or 3×2 array of sensors.27. A user input device as claimed in claim 24 comprising a keypadhaving first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth keys whichrespectively actuate the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixthsensors whereby the first, second, third and fourth pairs of sensorshave corresponding first, second, third and fourth pairs of keys.
 28. Auser input device as claimed in claim 27 wherein each pair of keys arelocated and arranged to be simultaneously actuated by a user using onedigit.
 29. A user input device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the pairsof keys are located and arranged to be actuated by a user rolling orpivoting one digit.
 30. A user input device as claimed hand portabledevice as claimed in claims 27, wherein the first, second and third keysare arranged curvilinearly.
 31. A user input device as claimed in claims27, wherein the first, second and third keys are arranged rectilinearly.32. A user input device as claimed in claims 27 wherein the fourth,fifth and sixth keys are arranged substantially parallel to the first,second and third keys.
 33. A user input device as claimed in claim 27,wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth keys form anarray.
 34. A user input device as claimed in claim 27, wherein thefirst, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth keys occupy an area notsignificantly exceeding 20 mm by 15 mm.
 35. A user input device asclaimed in claim 27 wherein the keypad comprises a 4×3 array of mobiletelephone keys.
 36. A user input device as claimed in claims 27, whereinthe keypad is a typist's keypad.
 37. A hand portable device comprising auser input device as claimed in claim 24, and control means, wherein thecontrol means produces: (a) a first control signal in response to theactuation of the second sensor; (b) a second control signal in responseto the actuation of the first sensor; (c) a third control signal inresponse to actuation of both the first and second sensorssimultaneously; (d) a fourth control signal in response to the actuationof the third sensor; (e) a fifth control signal in response to theactuation of both the second and third sensors simultaneously; (f) asixth control signal in response to the actuation of the fifth sensor;(g) a seventh control signal in response to the actuation of both thefifth and sixth sensors simultaneously; and (h) an eighth control signalin response to the actuation of both the fourth and fifth sensorssimultaneously.
 38. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 37wherein the control means in response to the actuation of only thefourth sensor produces the second control signal and in response toactuation of only the sixth sensor produces the fourth control signal.39. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 37, wherein the controlmeans comprises detection means for detecting the simultaneous actuationof keys.
 40. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 37 having a dataentry mode where the keypad including the plurality of keys are used toenter data wherein in said data entry mode the control means isresponsive to the actuation of the first key and second key separatelybut not together to produce different control signals.
 41. A handportable device as claimed in claim 37 further comprising a display fordisplaying an image including an element moving in the display, whereinthe first control signal causes the element to move in a firstdirection, the second control signal causes the element to move in asecond direction and the third control signal causes the element to movein a third direction intermediate of the first and second directions.42. A hand portable device as claimed in claim 37 further comprising adisplay for displaying an image having a perspective dependent upon anotional viewing position, wherein the first control signal causes thenotional viewing position to move in a first direction, the secondcontrol signal causes the notional viewing position to move in a seconddirection and the third control signal causes the notional viewingposition to move in a third direction intermediate of the first andsecond directions.
 43. A method of providing 8-way directional controlusing a user input device comprising a first set of sensors consistingof a first sensor adjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair ofsensors, and a third sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting asecond pair of sensors and a second set of sensors, adjacent the firstset of sensors, consisting of a fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor,constituting a third pair of sensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent thefifth sensor, constituting a fourth pair of sensors, comprising thesteps of: actuating predetermined ones of the sensors to move in any oneof a first four orthogonal directions, and actuating predetermined onesof the four pairs of the sensors to move in any one of a second fourorthogonal directions, off-set by 45 degrees from the first fourorthogonal directions.